Have you ever wondered what makes a member of St. Thomas? In the
Episcopal Church there are several levels of membership and deepening
commitment.Members
Membership means that your baptism has been recorded in the parish
register. If you have never been baptized, we invite you to join with
other seekers in a time of inquiry and learning called the Journey.
Participation in the Journey leads to the
celebration of adult baptism each year at the Easter Vigil.
If you have been a member of another Episcopal parish, recording your
baptism at St. Thomas is accomplished by requesting a "Letter of
Transfer" from the former parish. If you are coming from another
Christian tradition, a courtesy letter from St. Thomas can request the
information from your former church, or you can simply inform us of the
date and place of your baptism. "Adult Members" are persons 16 years of
age and older.
Confirmed Members
All adult members are encouraged to make a mature public affirmation
of their faith. After a period of instruction (at St. Thomas, the Journey), adults are confirmed by
one of our bishops or
(in the case of those who have been previously confirmed in another
church) formally received by him or her.
Communicants
Any member of the church who has received Holy Communion at least
three times during the year is considered a communicant. A "Communicant
in Good Standing" is a member who has been faithful in "working,
praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God." It should be
noted that persons of any age (including the youngest baptized children)
are welcome to receive Holy Communion.
At St. Thomas we recognize persons who have chosen to become
members by inviting them to participate in a public service of welcoming
during the Sunday Eucharist. These welcomings take place twice a year,
and they are followed by a special coffee hour to honor our new members.
For more information about membership, speak to one of the clergy or
simply call the church office.
St. Thomas is a warm and welcoming community. Visitors and seekers
find many ways to meet others, learn about parish programs, and become
members at St. Thomas. The activities of the Newcomers Committee make it
easier to get acquainted and participate in parish life. For more
information, please contact Newcomer Coordinator Phyllis Ross at (425) 392-8564.
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